Love Me Gently

Deer Creek #1

by Stacey Lynn

A swoony first love, single dad, returning to hometown romance from bestselling author Stacey Lynn

At eighteen years old, Katrina “Trina” Mills had dreams far larger than her small mountain town in North Carolina. She was bound and determined to become the next world-famous model, and was willing to risk leaving everything she knew, and everyone she loved, behind to get it.

Turns out, her dreams took her on a path toward a nightmare. She might have achieved all the success and stardom she’s always wanted but she’d sold her soul for them and was still paying the painful price.

The regrets she has now are much larger than the zeros in her bank account.

When a chance encounter occurs with her first love and high school boyfriend, now single father, Cole Paxton, she doesn’t expect the disaster that happens next. Forced to confront her past, her present, and all the decisions she made in between, returning home may end up being the safe solace she needed all along.

With the help of family, old friends, and an old flame who never gave up on her, Trina starts to believe she can heal and move on…

Until her husband shows up in town and threatens to tear it all away….

Genres: Second Chance, Romance, Second Chance Romance, Small Town Romance, Adult, Forced Proximity

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 18, 2025

About the author

Stacey Lynn likes her coffee with a dash of sugar, her heroes with a side of bossy, and her wine a deep shade of red.

The author of over thirty romance novels, many of which have been best-selling titles on Amazon, AppleBooks, and Barnes & Noble.

Born in Texas and raised in the Midwest, she now makes her home in North Carolina and loves all things Southern. Together with her ultimate tall, dark, and handsome hero, she has four children. Her life is a chaotic mess that fights with her Type-A, list-making, neurotically organized preferences and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Reviews

[veerali · Rating 3 out of 5]

⁀ ⊹ ₊ "When I look at you, I see everything."

this book spins a wild story about broken dreams, bouncing back, and the unbreakable strength of love when life gets super tough. we dive into trina's world, a young woman full of dreams who’s ready to chase her modeling aspirations. at first, it feels like a dream come true, but soon the shiny surface cracks, exposing a dark side filled with exploitation and abuse that could swallow her whole.

the first half hits hard, showing the trauma and struggles trina faces, but then things take a turn when cole, her old flame, steps back into the picture. now a law enforcer and a single dad of two little girls, he’s a rock of support. his return brings a glimmer of hope, and their rekindled bond helps trina find some healing.

⁀ ⊹ ₊ “For the first time in a long time, I love myself too.”

cole’s protective instincts kick in as he sees the dangers lurking in trina’s life. he goes all out to keep her safe, using his skills and connections to shield her from her past. the tension is real as he races against time, piecing together clues while battling his own issues to protect the woman he loves.

⁀ ⊹ ₊ Somehow. Some way. I’d stand by my word. I’d always be there for her.

but then trina’s husband shows up, throwing everything into a whirlwind. the vibe shifts, bringing a whole new level of chaos and danger.

while the plot is super engaging, the real magic lies in the characters. trina’s journey shows how strong the human spirit can be when it comes to healing. cole’s dedication to her safety is both heartwarming and motivating.

that said, the book has its hiccups. sometimes the pacing feels off, with parts dragging while others zoom by.

all in all, this is a gripping and emotionally charged read. even with its heavy themes, it ultimately delivers a message of hope and resilience. if you want a story that’ll keep you hooked from start to finish, this is it.

3.75 stars ⊹

⤿ second chance
⤿ angst
⤿ first love
⤿ protector
⤿ redemption
⤿ heroine in danger
⤿ single dad
⤿ slow burn

thank you to valentine pr & literary management for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

౨ৎ ⋮ more by stacey lynn
─ just one song series
─ nordic lord MC series
─ tangled love series
─ crazy love series

[Stacey Lynn]

Available now!

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Google Play!
Amazon: https://bit.ly/3VyefP0
Apple Books: https://bit.ly/40O9ELN
Nook: https://bit.ly/40MkmT8
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3Wzk2oj
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3E8SEa6

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3BmHihP

[Shana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐️
This one was HEAVY. PLEASE PLEASE look up triggers before reading. It deals with highly sensitive and emotional topics. Cole and Trina. I hated what Trina went through and that she lost herself. I loved that Cole, after 12 years of not seeing her, stood by her and loved and supported her. I loved that everyone did that. I love Val and Kip for what they did for Trina. Ella and June were so sweet and welcoming, as was Marie. Thank you to valentine pr for this arc

[Megan Coggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for emotional damage?
Look no further.

She went right for the kill on this one.
DV trigger warning 🚩
Check the other TW too.

Cole
I love a law enforcement man.
And Cole is all green flags

Trina…
😭😭😭

This was fast paced and jam packed for being under 300 pages.
It’s always been you ❤️
High school sweethearts
Small town
Second chances
Heroine in danger

What a way to start a series.

Arc review ✨

[༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆ 𝘓𝘪𝘢 · Rating 4 out of 5]

˚ ࣪˖ ⋆ ᝰ｡˚⋆ “𝓘 𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓼𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓭𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓘 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝓽𝓸𝓸. 𝓗𝓸𝔀 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓫𝓮?”˚ ࣪˖⋆ ᝰ ｡˚⋆

𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖

4.5★

𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖
⁀➴ 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁
⁀➴ 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹-𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻
⁀➴ 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
⁀➴ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼
⁀➴ 𝗚𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘆/𝗦𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲
⁀➴ 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘆

︵‿︵‿୨☠︎︎୧‿︵‿︵

⋆ ⁺₊❅.𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨⋆ ⁺₊❅.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘒𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘢 "𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘢" 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘰, 𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘶𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳. 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘭, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴. 𝘈 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘹𝘵𝘰𝘯—𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳—𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘈𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨.

︵‿︵‿୨☠︎︎୧‿︵‿︵
⋆ ⁺₊❅.𝙈𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨⋆ ⁺₊❅.
"𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘔𝘦 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺" 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘴. 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘺 𝘓𝘺𝘯𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘴𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭-𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.

[Emilee Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes
✨ Childhood friends to lovers
✨ Second chance
✨ Law enforcement
✨ FMC on the run
✨ Supportive hero MMC
✨ Trauma and healing
✨ No spice
** DV triggers, abortion, trauma, sexual assault , marital r@pe & assault **

“Sometimes you look at me, and then I look in the mirror, and I’m so confused because I don’t see anything you do.”
“Then you’re not looking close enough. When I look at you, Trina, I see everything.”

Holy heavy!! But oh my goodness what an amazing book! This book dives deep into the world of a young girl who’d do anything to achieve her dream. When Cole finds out what’s going on, even though she broke his heart as teenagers, he does everything in his power to get her out. Trina is so strong. She went through hell and came out alive. Cole was such a rock for her! He stuck by her while she struggled and healed. What an impactful read!!

[CoraBeth Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️WOW! This book was an emotional rollercoaster, and I loved every second of it. Cole is the ultimate swoon-worthy hero, patient, protective, and willing to do anything for Trina, even after years apart. Their second-chance romance was filled with heartache, healing, and undeniable chemistry that made it impossible to put down.

Trina’s journey was raw and emotional, showing the struggles of chasing dreams that turn into nightmares. Watching her reconnect with Cole and his daughter’s while facing her past was both heartbreaking and beautiful. The small-town setting, supportive family, and rekindled friendships made this story even more special.

And just when things start to feel safe, boom—her husband shows up, bringing the tension to another level. If you love emotional, small-town second-chance romances with a strong, devoted hero, this one’s a must-read!

I want to thank Valentine PR & Literary Management for the ARC!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, this story, Stacey just absolutely gutted me with this one! The pain and heartache for Katrina, the white knight in Cole, this story is a must read! 5 stars for this one!
Katrina(Trina) has always wanted more out of life then the small town she lives in. Her dream is to become a top model in the big city. She leaves that town and her one true love, Cole for bigger things in the big city. She knew she'd have to climb her way to the top, but never imagined what she would go through for the next ten years.
Cole never stopped loving Trina, even though he hated her for leaving. Ten years later, he's got two daughters, and an ex wife, and still wanting Trina back. While at a conference, he literally runs right into her, and just one look at her, and he knows she needs his help.
I don't want to give the story away, but my goodness, it's an amazing story, and I couldn't put it down! Grab this one asap!
** This story contains trigger warnings***

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in a new series and this is Cole and Katrina / Trina’s story.
These two were each other’s first loves, and high school sweethearts, until Trina left to pursue her dreams, which turned into a nightmare, and Cole stayed in town and is now a single dad. When Trina returns to her hometown, and from the moment she and Cole cross paths, he knows something is very wrong.
This story flits between the past and the present.
This is a well written story which is a slow burn, emotional roller coaster, with family, friendships, heartbreak, angst, first love, danger, suspense, intrigue, and is an entertaining, twisted, and tragic, small town romance, which tugs at the heartstrings throughout.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

[Erin Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Star Review Love Me Gently (Deer Creek #1) by Stacey Lynn

I was excited when I heard that Stacey Lynn had a new series releasing. If l Love Me Gently is anything to go by then I am excited for what’s to come.

Add in that this book’s hero is single dad is Cole Paxton then was all in.

Katrina “Trina” Mills has finally returned home to her small mountain town in North Carolina.

I enjoy second chance at love stories, particularly when set in a small town. This was at times an emotional and confronting story.

As Trina confronts her past, she will have to look see inside herself and face the decisions she made.

As soon as Cole reconnects with Trina he realises something is wrong. Knowing he still has feelings for her, he will do whatever he can to help her.

When danger comes calling he will do whatever he can to protect her. Will he succeed?

One click and find out.

[Laura ( Latteandbookz ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, that was a raw emotional journey that I wasn’t expecting to take. This book does have TW/CW that you will want to look into before reading this. This was a one that will stick with me for a while. Trina is very strong for the things that she went though. When Cole finds out everything that had happened, He goes above and beyond do get her out of the bad situation. They have a past being high school sweethearts. Trina has her eye set on the prize and chased her dreams to NYC but at the cost at loosing herself. The way Cole is there to support her in multiple ways was swoon worthy. I was cheering them hoping they were going to have there HEA.
Blog for more.

[Libby H · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed ☹️

I have read a few other books by this author and none of them have left me feeling disappointed like this one. For a few reasons.

1. The majority of this book is about the FMC healing from her physical injuries after a bad beating from her husband, as well as her healing mentally from her marriage and past mistakes. The writer relied on her “history” with the MMC (not her husband) to establish their relationship. She barely shared anything about their history, they barely spent any time together in the present and the reader is supposed to believe that they just picked up where they left off when they were 18 by the end of the book? Nah.

2. This book felt so freaking rushed. Like, I just finished it and my brain is like “That was it?? Where’s the rest??”

3. This book had no spicy scenes. Not even a solid make-out session. All of the books that I have read by this author had solid 🌶️🌶️🌶️ spice so that was SUPER disappointing.

4. I didn’t feel their connection at all. It’s like the author was TELLING us their connection instead of SHOWING it, you know?

Honestly, I don’t recommend this book. Thankfully, I only rented it through KU and didn’t actually purchase it.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book one in The Deer Creek Novel series and it is Cole and Trina’s story and omg what a great start to this new series and definitely a must read but make sure you read the trigger warning and get those tissues ready because you are definitely going to need them. Cole and Trina have history because at one time they were high school friends that turned to lovers and they were inseparable but unfortunately they both wanted different careers and they ended up separating which left them both brokenhearted. Trina wanted to be a model and ended up living all of her dreams but with it came the dark side to modelling if you want to get ahead and become famous which completely changed and destroyed her in many ways and now in a very mentally, physically and unstable marriage her life was so difficult, painful and dark with no way out of the constant fear that surrounded her because her husband was wealthy, had status and wouldn’t let her go because he owned her and was so evil, cruel and controlled everything in her life. Cole went to the police academy when he graduated then came back to Deer Creek because it was his home and he is now a detective and was all for justice and protecting people and even though he got married he is now divorced but his two daughters are his world and he would do anything for them but he never forgot Trina and even after everything that had happened he still to this day loved her so much and would give anything for a second chance with her. When Cole was at a police conference he literally bumped into Trina which shocked them both but he could tell that something was seriously wrong with her and he wondered if she was in danger because he knew that he would do anything for her regardless of the situation or consequences and then he got a call that he knew would change his life forever. Cole and Trina were so perfect together and for each other and even though they had many ups and downs and it was not plain sailing there love was so strong that it had stood the test of time even though they had been apart for so many years but when you love someone so much you will do everything possible to help them. Cole was such a special man and his love for Trina knew no bounds and I loved how he supported her and showed her what a special and strong person she was even after everything that she had been through even though she couldn’t see it herself and where as she put herself down it was Cole that lifted her up. My heart broke for Trina and everything that she had gone through for her career and the person who she thought should have loved and protected her but only thought of her as a possessions. This book will take you on a big rollercoaster ride of your life and will have your emotions all over the place and I felt all of Trina’s pain as if I was there living through everything with her and I cried so much while reading this book and yet I still couldn’t put it down and had to keep turning the pages because I needed to know what the outcome would be for them all in the end. Stacey Lynn is a amazing author and writer who certainly knows how to keep her readers engaged in the story and also keep your attention throughout and I can’t wait to read the next book in this amazing series.

[Books, Booze & Bon Voyage (Krista Webster) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Me Gently by Stacey Lynn is book one in her new Deer Creek series. A second chance romance between Cole Paxton, a single dad and his first love Katrina “Trina” Mills, who he unexpectedly helps return to her hometown. She has experienced so much trauma so can he save her and keep the promise he made to her when she left him broken hearted all those years ago. An emotional and angsty story which does cover some sensitive issues so please read the trigger warnings.

The author sets the scene by telling Trina and Cole’s stories in both the past and present. They were high school sweethearts and soulmates but their dreams and an incident after graduation tore them apart. Cole always wanted to be a police officer and thought they could make their relationship work but she destroyed them. Trina always wanted to be a model and left for a new life in New York. Modelling was more painful and difficult than she’d ever imagined. She regrets her decisions, hates herself for being manipulated and is full of guilt for all she did to achieve her dreams. Now she is beaten and broken by life with her husband Jonathan. When they met he was handsome, intoxicating and she thought he was going to save her but he hid his evil side. She can’t leave him as has nowhere to go as estranged from her family and friends.

Cole is now a police sergeant and still lives in Deer Creek. He’s divorced from Marie so they share custody of his two daughters, Ella and June. When he’s sent to a conference in Atlanta he surprisingly bumps into Trina. He immediately suspects something is wrong when he notices she has bruises before she rushes away. Then a month later he gets call from her friend asking for his help. She was the only woman he’s truly loved so goes to rescue her. Trina knows Jonathan will soon find her but Cole is determined he will never touch or hurt her again.

Cole is pleased she’s back where she belongs but needs to persuade her to stay. He’s so patient, kind and caring with her and I loved how protective and understanding he is. It is so sweet how he looks at her and still sees the girl he loved even though she doesn’t feel anything like her anymore. She shows so much strength and resolve but must figure out what she wants and face all she endured. The road ahead won’t be easy for either of them so can they find their way back to each other after all she’s done.

The plot was quite predictable and the ending seemed rushed especially as it was revealed there was more involved. I would have liked a little more about how the final event came about and it was a shame we didn’t get more interactions with her family and friends and his daughters after her recovery. The epilogue was short and sweet, with future plans made but we didn’t get to see how the couple were doing. It all ends with a lovely surprise from the man who always loved her. Overall a tale of beating the odds and finding hope and love again.

[Danielle Spellbound Stories · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Me Gently by Stacey Lynn is a beautiful, heartwarming second-chance romance that will tug at your heartstrings from the very first page. Trina’s return to Cole’s life is charged with undeniable chemistry, and their journey toward healing is nothing short of charming. Watching them navigate their painful past while rebuilding trust makes their story one that’s impossible not to root for.

Trina’s growth is the emotional heart of the story. I loved witnessing her transformation from someone scarred by her past to a woman who gradually learns to open her heart again. The romance between her and Cole is more than just physical attraction—it’s about overcoming trauma and rediscovering the ability to love. Their connection isn’t rushed or superficial; it’s built on emotional depth and mutual respect.

As a hero, single father Cole is everything you could want in a second-chance romance: compassionate, patient, and unwavering in his support. He understands Trina’s boundaries, never rushing her, which made their dynamic feel grounded and genuine. His slow, steady care for her makes their relationship feel real and earned.

The pacing of the story flows well for the most part, but I found the ending, while emotionally satisfying, to feel a bit rushed. It would have been wonderful to see a bit more of Trina’s life beyond the epilogue. A few extra pages showing her journey toward full happiness after everything she’s been through would have offered a more complete sense of closure and allowed readers to truly see the long-term effects of their healing.

While I generally prefer romances with “spice,” I can’t deny that the lack of spice worked perfectly for this story. It fit with Trina’s emotional healing and the slow-burning nature of her relationship with Cole. The book doesn’t shy away from the depth of their connection, but the focus remains on their emotional growth and the bond they share. For readers who enjoy romances that focus more on emotional intimacy and the slow build of love, this book will be a perfect fit.

Ultimately, Love Me Gently is a poignant story about love, redemption, and healing. It’s an excellent choice for readers who crave deeply emotional romances with a slow-burn dynamic. It reminds us that sometimes, love is the gentlest force needed to help us rebuild our hearts.

Story: 4⭐
Spice: 0🌶️

Genre:
♥Clean and Wholesome Romance
♥Small Town

Tropes:
♥Childhood friends to lovers
♥Law enforcement
♥Single dad
♥Second chances
♥Trauma/Healing
♥Abused FMC/Hero MMC
♥Small Town Romance

[BookishBibliotherapy • AB · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of redemption, perseverance, loving oneself, and finding the strength to overcome hardships when life has beaten you down. It’s a story of hope after believing lies and fear, and seeing the light and beauty after hardship.

Trina has big dreams for a small town girl. She wants to move to New York to take on modeling as a career after her high school graduation. She has a loving and supportive boyfriend but their dreams differ and while Trina wishes to spread her wings, Cole is perfectly content living in the same town they grew up in and wants to become a police officer.

After a sudden and unexpected event happens after their prom, everything changes for Cole and Trina, and years go by while they each find their own journey, without one another.

Cole’s journey keeps him in Deer Creek. Trina’s journey takes her to where she has always dreamed of being…New York. Trina continues to think of her first love, but her dream gives her tunnel vision and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to succeed.

Trina meets many people along the way and when her morals are questioned and she’s given an offer she can’t refuse to achieve her goals, she slowly begins to lose herself to manipulative men. She’s used, abused, and slowly loses herself…until she meets a man who can take her away from all the mess and love her as she is. Jonathan is loving, strong, kind, and wealthy, but ends up being a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

A chance encounter at a coffee shop brings Trina and Cole back into each other’s orbit. It’s been 12 years but Cole can instantly see the fear and well covered bruises on Trina’s face. The light has left her eyes, but he’s willing to do whatever it takes to save her.

This is a story of first loved, second chances, redemption, strong friendships, and forgiveness. It’s dark and heavy and has many triggering moments so please see the warnings. Other tropes you’ll find: single dad, protector, slow burn…

While I was definitely invested in this story, I did feel the second half was a little too quick. I wished we would have had a little more information and plot (her sister and family, the friends and their past, etc.), but overall it was a good book. I would also liked to have see more story after the three month time lapse at the end. Thank you Valentine PR and Stacey Lynn for this e-arc.

[Trish- Late Knight Luna Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book has so much to offer in second chances and I loved reading Cole and Trina’s story. “Love Me Gently” is an emotional, romantic and healing second chance romance that is a beautiful story.

Cole and Trina were high school sweethearts but broke up before graduation. Cole wanted to be a police officer and Trina had big dreams of leaving their small town to make it big in the modeling world. The two lose touch after all those years but when a chance meeting in Atlanta, Cole knows something is wrong with Trina. And when he gets a haunting call a couple weeks later, he’s there for her in an instant and brings her back home to Deer Creek. Trina is scared physically and emotionally because of her abusive husband and she has a lot of things to work through. But Cole is a patient man and vows to protect her no matter what.

This story was incredibly special and written with so much respect towards DV survivors. I can tell that Stacey Lynn took great care while writing this story and I loved Cole and Trina’s story. Cole is caring, protective and even after all the years apart, he stepped in without hesitation to protect and help Trina. And he was so kind, caring and patient with her. He never once pushed her into more than she was ready for when it came to her emotional healing, which is sometimes harder than the physical. Trina broke my heart with how she became so defeated by a monster but her strength shined through as she found herself again. The connection that they had as teens was still there and was definitely one of the things that helped them reconnect and heal. Their journey was raw, emotional and healing all wrapped in one. I loved the timeline of the book with some of the chapters going back when they were teens or when Trina was in NYC trying to start her modeling career. It brought some much perspective into who they were back then. I loved these two and I hope we get more from them in the future.

[Sarah_A6210 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning.

What a beautiful but sorrowful book.
This book has some strong themes so check triggers first.

I haven’t read from this author before I couldn’t put this book down. This story follows childhood sweethearts, the FMC ‘Trina’ and the MMC Cole. Life takes them on different paths after school, Cole wants to stay in their home town and go to the police academy and Trina wants to go to New York and be a star.

Trina breaks Cole’s heart when she leaves and spends 10 years questioning every choice she made in the name of ‘adventure’ when every choice she makes takes another piece of her soul and she ends up trapped in the clutches of evil man after evil man, passed from one to another and married off. She’s trapped. Beaten, broken and alone.

A chance meet with the MMC Cole one day, he knows something is wrong the moment he sees her. She may have broken his heart when she left and he tried to move on, but he could never fall out of love with the other part of his heart. When he’s called as the last resort to Trina out of her hell, can he be the saviour and man he needs and will she ever be able to move on from her past, her choices and breaking his heart when she’s so broken, inside and out.

This book is all about love, patience, forgiveness and even in your darkness hour there will always be help to those who can be brave enough to reach out and just think, ‘what if’

This is a strong story, it’s emotional and hard hitting, it’s patience and love, that sometimes home really where the heart is, or who the heart is.

The story was well paced and gripping, strong but delicately written about some very difficult topics.

I was extremely fortunate to be given this book as an Arc but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you for the opportunity #valentinePR and #staceylynn

[Jocelynereadsromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel reads like a new chapter and exploration in Stacey Lynn’s writing journey. Love Me Gently is the first novel in the Deer Creek series and it takes a very gentle and head first approach to a second chance romance between a woman, who has been physically abused and emotionally manipulated by men who held power over her in her career and marriage, and her small town high school sweetheart, who is a divorced father and police officer. Lynn approaches this novel with a beautiful care around the domestic violence, bringing this story to life with the understand and truth it needs in order to be told.

This novel is one that will tug at your heart strings, it will make you contemplate what you would do for your dreams, and it will make you believe in the inner strength we all have inside ourselves. This novel, while a romance, is truly the journey of a woman breaking out of a cycle of abuse, learning to love herself again, learning to forgive herself, and fighting for a future that she could not imagine. In the sidelines is our hero, who is kind and gentle and only wants what is best for the heroine. This novel is about the everyday moments, the quiet in between as we grow. This novel is truly about understanding and a rebuilding of trust, it is about the emotional care and strength, so this novel does not have a physical expression of love which I found to be the right choice in light of where our heroine is throughout and at the end of this story.

This novel will not be for everyone, but if you are looking for a journey of strength and breaking out of a cycle of abuse, then I would recommend giving this novel a chance. Stacey Lynn’s writing is clear and full of understanding, she lays out the situations in a manner that the reader absorb in a safe and open way that keeps us from judging the situation but getting an idea of how it came to be and why it continues. Lynn also shows the reader that the inner strength of someone is resilient and beautiful and finding the help you need through friends, family and therapy is a level of bravery that should be celebrated.

Thank you to Valentine PR for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Me Gently
Author- Stacy Lynn
Series- Deer Creek Novel Book #1
Rating- 4 Stars out of 5
Genres- Contemporary, Women's Fiction
Tropes- First Love, Second Chance, Return Home, Single Dad, Slow (like really slow) Burn, Law Enforcement
Main Characters- Trina and Cole
Spice Level- 0/5
HEA
Content warning - Spousal a b u s e (off page) serious injuries as a result

This book was a tough read, not because it was bad or the writing was convoluted, but because the subject matter was tough. The big plot point of the book is the female lead, Trina, was being abused by her husband. And while it wasn't on page you saw the results of the abuse. Trina also was taken advantage of when she was a young model by powerful men - so this book while very good it did hurt my heart at times to see how abuse can isolate and break down a person.
I enjoyed reading this book, even though it had hard content it is content that should be written and read about so people can recognize what abuse can look like and why some people feel they can't leave that situation. I thought the characters were well developed and interesting. There were two things I thought was a negative about the story. The first was Trina made several decisions that she had every right to make at the beginning of the story so she could accomplish her dreams and I felt like she never got real support from her loved ones and I thought that was the first step in her isolation in the story. And I'm not saying she didn't make mistakes herself but I just would have liked to see her have more support. I also felt like the books ending fell flat- like yes it was happy but the bad guy got caught with like 10 pages left in the book, suit was just a flat ending after that.

[Maz · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
No Spice

This is very heavy book and you must be strong and be prepared to read it. So checking TW is imperative.
This is not a normal romance and there isn't any spice at all. Given the story, it's hard to fit some in I guess, but I still would have liked more chemistry between the MCs. For me it was too much in the past and the on page abuse (Personal opinion). Maybe add extra chapters where we get more of Cole and Trina as a couple.
None the less this story really did grab your heart and crush it along with the characters.
Trina and Cole were in love from age 15. They were it but they both had different dreams. She sabotaged all relationships and made some hard decisions, so she can follow her dream to be a model. In a way, I felt Cole loved her more than she did.
Now she has made the step she had no choice but to accept whatever she could to prove everyone and make her dream come true. This is probably true in a lot of cases and I felt Trina lose her soul in them pages. You can't blame her, she was 18, young and naive with stars in her eyes.
12 yrs later Cole is single dad of 2 cute girls and Trina is a lost soul married to an abusive man.
Cole never stopped loving her and you can see it in all he says, does or has done.
When there is a chance to protect her and escape he takes it.
Now he needs to decide if he can keep his now life safe as well as Trina. How is he going to bring back the love of his life from the dark space she is in?
A very emotional ride, you will cry not just from the abuses but the warmth and love everyone shows to help her. Loved them all. It's a slow journey and written so well with knowledge and care. And all the steps wee considered well.

[PFL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Me Gently by Stacey Lynn is an emotionally charged romance that will sweep readers off their feet and keep them engaged from page one. The story centers around Trina, a woman who has been emotionally, verbally, and physically abused over the last 10+ years. Cole was her first love, and they broke it off when they were young to follow each other’s dreams.

When Cole runs into Trina on an unexpected trip it changes both their lives, as he hopes to help Trina heal and find love despite the scars of her own life. Stacey Lynn does a fantastic job of creating a dynamic between them that feels authentic, with emotional depth that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

The pacing of the story is spot-on, weaving moments of tension and sweetness, but also exploring themes of healing and second chances. The development of Cole and Trina’s relationship feels organic, with both of them learning to trust and open-up in ways they had not before.

At times this story is heartbreaking and may present triggers for some; however, it shows the true struggle that abused victims encounter and answers some of the questions on how they re-engage after only knowing one way of life for so long. “Who am I anymore?” is truly what Trina is trying to find out.

In conclusion, Love Me Gently is a beautiful, captivating read. Stacey Lynn has crafted a romance that is both tender and passionate, leaving readers eagerly turning the pages to see how Cole and Trina’s story unfolds. If you love books with emotional depth and compelling characters this is definitely a book you won’t want to miss.

[Heather Carver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this story!!! It gave me all the feels. My heart broke for Trina and Cole. The only reason I didn’t give this book a 5 star is because the story didn’t feel complete to me.

This story will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what’s going to happen next. You will not want to put the book down until you’ve finished reading it. I feel like the ending didn’t give me the closure I needed.

Trina is a girl with dreams and aspirations and she isn’t going to let anyone take those from her. What she doesn’t know is what it’s going to cost her to make those dreams come true. Trina ends up making those dreams come true (I think) only to find herself trapped in a nightmare. She turns into a shell of the girl she was.

Cole is a small town boy who has dreams of become a cop and never leaving his small town. This is where Cole and Trina have different dreams. He wants her to stay and she knows she can’t. I love that about her. She didn’t stay because she knew she needed to live out her dream or she’d have regrets. Once she leaves we don’t see much about Cole during the twelve years she was gone. But we know he has two beautiful daughters and an ex wife.

The first half of the book is a tale of past and present coming together, spinning the story. It is full of pain and suffering. Then we see Cole and Trina meeting and Cole wanting to save Trina. But in truth Trina is the only one that can save herself. Can Cole help Trina see that she’s worth saving?

I really enjoyed this book and wish we got to see more at the end of the book! But overall I absolutely loved this story! Way to go Stacey Lynn!!!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

*5 stars*
What an emotional turmoil rollercoaster ride this was. It bounced somewhat between past and present but the author explains it very well and you could follow where the story was going while you're piecing the story together, hoping for that happy ending as the story also deals with a lot of sensitive subjects that could be very explicit; as it also happens in real life so it's not always easy to read. I think the author handled that very well throughout. Mix it in with a single parent and you definitely have a story that will grip you and pull on all of your heartstrings. A favorite for 2025!

Katrina "Trina" moves out of Deer Creek and leaves behind her boyfriend to pursue a modeling career but she soon realises that nothing comes for free and a lot of events happen that make it hard to walk away from something that she really wants to happen. As she tries to make her way to the top, she also experiences a lot of downfalls but tries to keep on going. Now her marriage is not what she thought it would be but there's a lot that she hides away. When years later, it finally comes to a head, a person from her past will be the one that could be the one that gets her away from it all. Cole never really thought he would see Trina again but he soon realises a lot has changed over the years. Now being a single dad, he does everything he can for his daughters but there's still something that makes him want to help her out. As they slowly rebuild their friendship, Trina is trying to find her footing again although her scars run very deep. Will everything work out in the end?...

[Amundeep Kaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Me Gently is the first book in Stacey Lynns Deer Creek series. This book follows Katrina “Trina” Mills and Cole Paxton. Katrina from a small town in North Carolina and she is determined to be a famous model. Cole was her first love and high school sweetheart and now is a single father. Katrina and Cole separated right before graduation because Katrina wanted to pursue her dreams and would not let anything, or anyone stand in her way. Unfortunately, the path to her dreams quickly turned into a nightmare she could not escape. Stacey Lynn did a wonderful job mixing together parts of the past in present in such a seamless way that we slowly discovered what actually occurred in the Katrina past and the affects her past is having on her life at present. The novel is so wonderful crafted and does an exemplary job of capturing the intricacies and flaws of every character. Katrina healing journey was written in such a that I was able to connect with her pain. The story captured me from the very beginning and hooked. The slow burn reconnection of the two main characters was done in a magnificent way as the author did not just push aside the issue the characters were facing and took their time exploring it more in depth. Cole was also wonderful and the way he handled Trina traumas with care and patients was amazing. I loved how he made sure she was comfortable and let her heal and move on at her own pace but still was willing to give her the push she needed every once in a while. This book had so much suspense and build up and the way I could feel every heartache and fear of the character kept me drawn into the story.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars – A Heartfelt and Emotional Second Chance Romance
Stacey Lynn delivers an emotionally gripping and deeply moving small-town second-chance romance in Love Me Gently. From the very first page, I was hooked on Trina and Cole’s story—two high school sweethearts who took different paths, only to find their way back to each other when fate intervenes.
Trina’s journey was heartbreaking yet inspiring. She chased her dreams in NYC, but at a devastating personal cost, losing herself to those who manipulated her. Seeing her slowly reclaim her strength with Cole’s unwavering support was beautiful to witness. Cole, now a devoted single dad, was everything you could want in a hero—protective, patient, and undeniably swoon-worthy. His love for his daughters melted my heart, and the way he stood by Trina through her healing process made me root for them even more.
This book doesn’t shy away from heavy topics, making it an emotional and sometimes painful read. However, the journey toward healing, love, and justice was worth every tear. The villain was truly despicable and seeing them get what they deserved was immensely satisfying. Stacey Lynn balances the darkness with heartwarming moments and the warmth of a small-town community.
If you love second-chance romances with deep emotional layers, a strong yet vulnerable heroine, and a steadfast hero who will fight for the woman he loves, Love Me Gently is must-read. Just be sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Melanie Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review: 5⭐️
Love Me Gently is book 1 in the Deer Creek Series featuring Cole Paxton & Katrina ‘Trina’ Mills.

Cole and Trina were friends since they were kids, they date in high school but Trina is determined to leave Deer Creek and make it big modelling. When she leaves town she breaks both of their hearts but never turns back or calls.

When presented with a way to her dream, Trina must do things she doesn’t want to in order to succeed. Eventually she makes it somewhat big and meets a man named Jonathan. Jonathan seems to good to be true, until he isn’t.

Cole becomes a detective in deer creek, gets married and has kids, but he never fully gets over Trina, and he and his wife Marie end up getting divorced.

While in Atlanta for a conference, Cole runs into Trina. He discovers she’s in a dangerous situation, leaving her with his card incase she ever needs it. He truly doesn’t expect to ever hear from her but when she’s involved in an incident and winds up in the hospital, her friends and Cole must rescue her.

But when her husband eventually comes to Deer Creek for her, will Cole and their friends be able to protect her or will she suffer further at the hands of her husband?

Wow this story was deep and emotional and oh so good! Please be sure to check the triggers and read with caution but this was the perfect kick off to a new series.

Thank you Stacey Lynn and Valentine PR for the ARC.

[Leah Pretty Pistolz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tropes:
Childhood friends to lovers
Law enforcement
Second chances
Trauma/Healing
Abused FMC/Hero MMC
Small Town Romance

4.5⭐️ No🌶️

**Please read trigger warnings prior to reading this book as it contains the following trigger: Domestic violence, abortion, sexu@l assault including martial r@pe and assault, trauma and abortion.**

Trina and Cole were high school sweethearts but she decided to end things even though it broke both of their hearts to follow her dreams of leaving her home town and becoming a model. When she left to start her new life she was referred to a man at an agency that could get her started. Needless to say that's when her bad luck started, and she was introduced to a very rich man who she ended up marrying, but was extremely abusive.

Cole ended up working in law enforcement and getting married to an amazing lady and having 2 beautiful girls sadly things didn't work out between romantically due to Cole still loving Trina but they are still friends and she's an awesome support!

One day Cole was leaving a coffee shop and bumped into someone, it was Trina! When their eyes connected, it definitely brought back all the memories and feelings plus some. Cole could instantly tell something was not right and tried to see what was wrong and give her his number but Trina ran off. The friend she was with ended up taking his number and that was the best thing she could've done for her friend.

This book will be released on February 18th, 2025❤️

[J's Reading Journal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughts: First off, thank you to the author for sending me an arc. This was my first book by her, and to keep it short, I was definitely impressed. This story follows Trina Mills and Cole Paxton. The book has two timelines – one from when they were teenagers, one in the present. Trina grew up in a small town but eventually moved to New York to chase her dreams. We see her struggles and how her chasing her dreams lead her to living a nightmare. Trina runs into her high school boyfriend and is forced to confront her past, and what choices she wants to make for her future.
Hearing Trina’s story and everything she had to endure had my heart sinking. While she thought of herself as being nothing, everyone in her past still had high hopes and didn’t hold her past against her, and this was so heartwarming to read about. I absolutely loved this story and would highly recommend it. I did find that the ending felt very abrupt. I felt like the last chapter should have been more of a three-quarters point in the story, and that the epilogue would be extended for a few more chapters so we can see Trina properly heal from her past. It felt odd to have everything resolved in the last chapter. I just wish we got a bit more. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It covered heavy topics in a meaningful way and reading from Trina’s POV made me understand how trapped she felt. I’m excited for the rest of this series to be released!

My rating: 4.5/5

[Judie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Me Gently is book one in Stacey Lynn’s Deer Creek series. It is a wonderful story of single dad, second chance romance, with a lot of healing and protection thrown in.

Trina and Cole are high school sweethearts and he wants nothing more than to be with her and raise a family. Trina has big dreams of running off to the big city and becoming a famous model. She breaks Cole’s heart. In the years that follow there is pain and grief for both of them.

I liked the raw way that Stacey wrote this book. She did not hold back and for that I am grateful. I felt the emotions from both Trina and Cole down to my very toes. He was going to win her back with patience and trust. Cole made sure that Trina always knew she was in control and that she could make choices for herself. This began her true healing process. Trina definitely does not see herself in the way that Cole does and always has.

“Sometimes you look at me, and then I look in the mirror, and I’m so confused because I don’t see anything you do.”
“Then you’re not looking close enough. When I look at you, Trina, I see everything.”

I did feel like I was more invested and then got what was a quick wrap up. The end felt a little rushed. This is a good book. Please check your trigger warnings before you read and be prepared for an emotional read that will have you tearing up. Tis was a kick off to what I am sure will be a wonderful new series from Stacey.